Selective gear ratio drive mechanism for motor vehicles



March 26, 1935.

G, P; KITCHEN 1,995,988

SELECTIVE GEAR RATIO DRIVE MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed sept.' 11, 1955 2, Sheff:ts-shee'fv 1 QS www 3 L,i SS E Y Q NN\ im N 7 R Q Q W Q W N r Qs9\ N e NK 9 7`7`N e m\ IN HHH N I N* w I IN' @l ./mm "3l 7`\3 s1 Q5, N R I QN`3\V N V/Tvl 1H q .111 N W w f Q QB Q3 w@ 53 my W N March 26, 1935. G, P, KWCHEN 1,995,988

SELECTIVE GEAR RATIO DRIVE MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Sept. ll, 1953 A y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 26, 1935 s ELEoTIvE "GAR v:mirto naive MECHA- msM ljoa Moron VEHICLES g George P. Kitchen, Hays; Kans. Application septemberii, 193s, serial No. 689,026 v krselaims. `(C1. riff-366) 'lh/e object of my invention is to provide a drive mechanism of this type adapted to-beinterposed between a transmission and differential gearing andsupported Within a vforwardly extending yl5 housingsupported by the differential housing whereby the same is lubricated by thegrease of the differential housing, f Another'bbjectof my invention is to provide 'a drive mechanism devoid of the usualinterm'eshl ing gears whereby a direct drivef can be obtained from the drive shaft to either of the pinion gears meshing with the vring gears. "Another object of myy invention is to provide a drive mechanism inf which the vlock dg clutch can be readily shifted tolock either vof the pinion gears to the drive mechanism whichisfconrnected directly to the drive shaft for Achanging the gear ratio. 'Another object of the invention'is to provide a drive mechanism for `this, type which" has few i moving parts and which issimple and effective in construction and having 'certain details of structure and combination ofparts hereinafter' more `fully setl forth. I Y In the accompanying,drawings:v Figure 1 isa vertical ,sectional view'of an autof mobile differential vgearingshowing my invention applied theretoyf;y 'y Fig. 2 is aside elevation of thedrive housing. Fig. 3 is anend'vie'vvl ofthe left hand endoff the housing appearing vin Fig. 2. 7

Fig. 4 isa transverse sectional view illustrating the clutch 'operating mechanisn1.`

Fig. 5 is a side vievv` of thev right-hand side of Fig-4.` e alvertical sectional Qview taken on '-Fig,.6 is the line6-f6, of `Fig.v i.f .f

Fig.v .7 is a side view of the "gj8 is an end view of Fig, '7j'- A y Fig. 9` is a fragmentary verticalsectional View taken on the line -9-9 Fig. 2,- looking in the direction indicated by arrow. j.

j Referring now to the drawings, 29` represents the horizontal shaft of an, automobile differential gearing which carries the two ring gears 2 7 and 28 arranged in the'sameiplane but ofdiiferent diameter. VWhile '-I will describe vvtlriis-'irne tion as applied tothe differential;gearingbra tomobuait will be understood that tiielsnie fsil be' used in many placesiwhere it is de'siredftochange 4the lratio of drive shafts. f Theusual differential housing"'iisprovided 'ing 30. l y c 2 Thehousingz ismade in'two sections,'the forward section 14: being .longer *than the A'rear :slidable clutch merri-y between the Adrivenand drive with an additional forwardly'extending vhousing the stub shaft 1, kand any-packing can 4beused around theshaft to prevent the lubricating'oil or grease from passing out of the casing' 3l.` Secured to the outer end of the stub shaftfis 'the uni-r versal connection 34 to which'is connected 'the drive shaft 35leading' -from the engine.'` The housing 31- is provided at its" upper end with'an 'or grease to pass into the housing 32 intermediatel its ends. The lower end of the housing 31 is provided'wth a passage 39 lvvhichallow's the'oil or grease to pass back intothe differential houssection '19 andthe sections having abutting'fout- 31`which encloses the housing 32Y of my vdrive l `mechanism. Theforward end of the housing 31 lis close'drby 'theplate 5 through which'extends e e l'oil passage 36, lwhich has its forward end open` at 37 to allow the lubricant topass downwardly c vto 1:he'housing32. The-passage is also provided 'with openings 33 which allows some of the oil 15 'gether by rbolts l17' to formthe rigidy drive hous'- ing 32., 'rheuisk 2 of thejstub shaft 1 forms a part of theuniversal connection 34 asjclearly shown in Fig. 1 ofjthe drawings. Carried by the stub shaft yis a bearing' y3" coc' pe1'ating with bear- ,ing'mountings 4 carried by the-forward wall' 5' of the housing 31. The innerend of the stubshaft 1` is provided with the outwardly kextending' i flange 7 which is boltedV to "aflange 7 carried'by of the bons 14a.,`

the 'outer section -14 ofthe housing 32 by means A Thedifferential'has the tworing gears -27 and-v the other'andof diiferent's'izes as clearly 4shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Meshing with'the inner gear ring 28 isapi'n ion gear 26 carried by the floating shaft 26Vr which f eXtends' forward and terminates closefto the inl28 arranged in thesame plane and one encircling ner end-of the stub shaft 1.- Thesection14 of 'A and held thereto bymeans of the lock nut 8. The shaft 26' is provided with a clutch element in the housing 32 as' will later be-described- The. ring gear 27 has ymeshing therewith a pinion gear'24` carried by the rear endof the iioating hollow shaft 24"` which surrounds theshaft 26"" and extends into the housing aboutmidwaylits length.

is provided with a clutch element 16 lockedthere-f the housing 32 at its forward end-lis provided "with a bearing 9 `cooperating' with the shaft '26',

I formof a gear 10 adapted to be locked tothe l on bymeas of the l1rm1 imt 15.v A bearing y251s; provided at the rear end ofthe hollow floatingv 'shaft and cooperating with the solid iloating shaft 261, whereby they are fr ee torotate one on the other. A bearing 18 is provided at the. forward .endof `the section f19 of the housing 32 which co- `operates withthe hollow shaft 24' in beyond the clutch element 16.

vThe. outer sectionlif of the housing 32 isprovided with two` spaced internal toothedv clutch elements 12' and 13 forming a portion ofthe lock dog clutch'.V Withinthe housing 32 intermediate v Athe internalclutch elements 12 and 13 is the vkmovable portion 13 of the-)lockydogclutch and i Y which is provided at each end Withclutch lele--` ments in the vform of gears l2 and 12bfwhichare ladapted to mesh with the internal clutch elements 12 and 13', as Will 'bei-laterdescribed.

'I'he, member 13 at each end is-d provided with internal clutch elements' in theA4 forin'of gears'1215?l and 15b adaptedto mesh with the clutch-elements land 16 carried by the shafts 24'V :and 262' wherebyjeither Yshaft can be `locked to Vtl 1 e.ho1 1 sing SZanddriventhereby. AThis movi length-lessthantheldistance between-the clutch ,elementsflO and 16, and it canfconsequently be moved into'a neutraler non-drive position where :neither of its internal clutch elements 15EL and 15b mesh with. the -clutch elements 10 or 16. t

The -dogfclutchmember'l at the center is proy ,videdgwithlfour outwardly extending arms 12ar which extend-through` the elongated longitudinalily/extending openings 14el inthe section 14fofjthe housingtBZ, whereby the clutch member fis :free Ato move.longitudinally'within thehousing but heldagainst rotation. `Carried bythe outer-ends :of thefarms 12a andjjsurrounding the section 1 4 of the housing iszaolutch collar fll operated. y through the medium vof alever, as will bejlater described Inforder toholdrthe collar in'its1adjustedgposition jit isv provided withtwo arms 111'i arranged on-opposite sides and extendingparallel `with the housing 32.: Thesaid arms 11a' are pro,-`

g' vided withnotchesand pass through brackets :50

provided with-spring pressed ,plungers 51 jcoop- 'eratingfwiththe-notchesinthearms;

`The :housing 3 1-is,providedon opposite sides with openings covered by plates* 20 in which are` mounted the trunnions 2Q .and 21 carriedby the yoke V21 which sur-roundsftheiupperhalffof the ihousing 32.. The lower'ends of the yoke are provided with pins carrying rollers `21HL entering the .groove `of the clutch collar llxand whereby the same is moved longitudinally on the housing 32.

t 'The-trunnion 21 is provided withanarm 23, whichextendsupwardly and-hasconnected there- V(it) :to arod 23??L which `extendsforwardand is operated from vthe drivers seat. In-ordento further h old the clutch collar inits adjusted position the y yolsezl is provided with a segmental plate 22 having notches 23. `in its upper face and into zwhich' is `pressed the spring pressed plunger 22 carried by the ,inner face of the housing 31.` As shownin Fig; 6 thereare three notches--23 to hold the olutchoollar in itsl three different positions.

The section 1 9 of kthe housingA 32 `is provided a series of openings 19a by means ofdwhich the-grease or oil can .pass'within the housing 32 from the vgear casing 31` to thoroughly lubricate the working parts therein.` In order to prevent the loil trombeingthrown out of the housing32 too rapidlyguard plates 19b are arranged on the inside `opposite thegopenings. e

the teeth 12b onA its rearouter periphery is in mesh with the internal toothed clutch element 13 of th'e housing 32`andtherefore locked thereto.

" 'I'he internal toothed clutch element 15a of` the clutch`- dog4 member meshes -withfthe clutch ele-fV nient 11'6l carriedby the g outer j end lfof the sleeve shaft 24 which vcarries the -pinionxgear y24 meshing with the larger ring vgear 27. yBy moving the operating rod forward the yoke 21fis swung on its trunnions'moving.l the clutch dog member 13" forward sovthat the internal gear 15 is out'ofv mesh with .the clutch element 16 carried vby the` hollow shaft and thusthe housing 32 is rotating `but is not driving thefdiiierential. A further forwardmovement of rod 23B moves the member lf3 so that itsinternal clutch element 15BL is in mesh with the clutch elementvlocarriedby the shaft26.

This -shaft carries the pinion ,gear1q26fwhich' c meshes iwith the r`smaller ring gear28v andythe ratio of ldrive is decreased and :increasingjthe l While-I have shownthedevioeas applied'tojany automobile differential, itwill l,be understood that j `the vsame could-be applied to `andydrive mech- Vo .nisrrilwhere at times it is desired to'jincrease or decreasegear ratio.

claim anddesire to secure by. I .etlx-:rsPatentis:`

`1.- InA a changeablegear ratio drive, the com- .binationfof a drive shaft; having two beveled gears lof l@different sizes,` two concentric,- shafts, a pinion geartcarriedtbyoach shaft and meshing with `the* .beveled gears, a `v housing Ysurrounding the entire l*length ofmthe'V concentric shafts,4 a

,driven shaft rotating said housing, and alock `dog .clutch memberA movable inv said housing' v and f .-130 ".I-Iavinggthusv described vmy inventiomwhat I y having drivingconnection therewith and'adapthousing by movement in ,onev direction .andthe I Vother s'haft'by movement;v in theopposit'e direc-y '45 2. In achangeablegear ratiodriv'e, the combination of a drive' ishattfh'aving two ring gears tion.`

of different AsizesV mounted thereon; ashaft having apinion gear meshing with the smallerring gear and a clutch member Vatjlts'outer end, a hollow shaft surrounding the last; mentionedfshaft to Y andhaving apinion gear meshing wlththe larger v ring gear, and of a' length'less than, the inner shaft` and having a clutch memberat fitsfo'uter end, a housing surroundingfboth" of the clutch members `of the two .shafts [and the "shafts throughout their lengths, a 'driven Shaft lrotating saidhousing, and a lock' dog clutch Amember with- J yin' the housing and'adapted 'to interlock with v the clutch members ofthe shaft` carryinggthe pinion gears. 1

,GO Y

3. In a changeableA gear lratio drlveythe com- K bination of a' drive shaft having ltwofring gears of different sizes ,tvvov concentric shafts one within the other, pinion gears'carried 'by the shafts ,and meshing with the ring gears, kspacedffclutch members carried by'the outer ends of the' concentric shafts, a housing surrounding the entire length of the 1 concentric shaftsandr both clutch members, a drive shaft :rotating said housing, and t a slidable lock' dogclutch member within thev housing and adapted to cooperate withthe'clutch members carriedby the concentricshaftsforlocking either shaft to the housing.

4.`l I n Va changeable gear ratio drive, :thelcomy y19,995,988 bination of vla drivev shaft `having-two'lrin'g.gears of 'different sizes, a. piniongear carried'lbya shaft and-,meshing y'with one-fof the ring gears, a clutch element'4 carried by the outer end ofvsaid shaft, a hollow shaft surrounding the last mentioned shaft and having a pinion gear meshing with'the other ring gear, said lastmentioned outer shaft vbeing shorter than the first mentioned inner shaft, a clutch element carried by the outer end of the hollow outer shaft, a housing sur-A rounding the clutch elements and extending throughout the length of and surrounding the aforementioned concentricallyk arranged pinion gear carrying shafts, a driven shaft rotating said housings, a lock dog clutch member slidably `car- .ried Within said housing and surrounding said concentrically arranged shafts and provided in its ends with internal clutch elements adapted to embrace and mesh withthe 'clutch elements ranged inv spaced parallel alignment with said pinion gear shafts, a drive housing provided internally with the clutch elements in spaced relation, one end of said drive housing closedby a plate carried by said driven shaft and rotatable therewith, the opposite end' of the rotatable drive housing rotatably supported `upon the outer of said concentric pinionshafts, a clutch slidable within the drive housing and adapted for selective driving engagement with the clutch elements of said housing, and said clutch also adaptedl for selective driving engagement with the clutch elements of either of said pinion shafts.

6. 'Ihe combination with a drive shaft having two ring gears of different sizes and two concentric and independent pinionshafts of different lengths provided at one end with pinion gears meshing with the ring gears and adjacent their other ends with clutch elements, of a drive housing surrounding said pinion shafts and having an end plate closure yforming a driving connectionbetween the housing and a driven" shaft, a pair of clutch elements'carried by the inner face of said housing in separated parallel relation, a ring clutch within the housing and surrounding the pinion shafts, said clutch having in the inner faces of its ends internal clutch elements, eX- ternal clutch elements on said clutch ring at its ends,said clutch ring being of a width less than the vdistance'between the clutch elements carried by the pinion shafts and of a widthr less than the distance separating the internal clutch elements of the drive housing, and means external of the housing and having operative connection with the clutch ring for selectively moving said clutch so that the clutch elements at one end of the clutch will provide an operative drive connection between .thedrive housing and one of the pinion shaft gears. 'v

7. A structure such as defined in claim, wherein the means external of the housing foroperating the clutch is in the form of a` collar encircling the housing and provided with a plurality of arms extending parallel with the housing, said arms being provided with indentures: and a bracket slidably receiving said arms and provided with detents'adapted to-resiliently "engagewthefclutch' 'arm indentures 'forlocking-f'the" clutch `inl itsv jselectedposition. H

, a.v The vcombination with@ housing :provided f with afdriveshaft carryinga pairlofgring gears of differentisizesfand a pair.1 of fc'oncentrically arranged pinion shafts provided with pinion vgears,

meshing with said ring gears and said shafts eirtending outwardly from the housing, of a driven' shaft having driving connection with'` arrelonfvv gated housing surrounding said pinion shafts, ff

a clutch withinv said housing and movable for selectively providing driving connection between the housing and either of said shaftsyar third Vhousing supported upon the housingenclosingj the ring gears and extending outwardly th'ere-v 4 from and enclosing said drive housing, said third housing provided with a bearing, for lsaid driven shaft, and the end of the `drive housing adjacent the ring gears being rotatably supported ibetween bearings carried by the outer pinion shaft and the third housing.

9. A structure such as defined in claim 8, wherein the drive housing is provided with a bearing for rotatably supporting the outer end of the inner pinion shaft. V

10. A structure such as defined inclaim 8,

wherein the drive housing is provided with bearings for rotatably supporting'the outerlendsof both pinion shafts.

11. In a structure such as defined in claim 8 wherein the drive housing is provided with openings for the passage of oil and the third housing is provided with an elongated passageway formd ing an oil conduit between the housing, enclosing the ring gears and the outer end 4ofthe third` housing. 'f

12. An improved drive, comprisinga'drive shaft.

and a driven shaft arranged in separated Lrela@ tionship, a pair of gears .,of different sizes car-v riedvby and having drivingjconnection with the .i

drive shaft, two concentric shafts each of which carries a pinion gear meshing with one` of the gears of the drive shaft, said concentrically arranged shafts extending towards but stopping short of the driven shaft, a housing completely surrounding and rotatably supporting said concentric shafts, said housing having driving connection with the driven shaft wherebythe hous-A f ing rotates with said shaft, and a clutch member having driving connection with said housing positioned and movable in said rotatable housing and adapted to selectively lock either one of the concentric shafts to the housing to provide a selective drivingconnection between `the driven shaft. f

13. In a changeable gear ratio drive, the combination of a drive shaft having two ring gears of f different sizes, two concentric shafts one within the other, pinion gears carried by the shaftsand meshing with the ring gears, spaced clutch members carried adjacent the outer ends of the concentric shafts, ahousing surrounding the entire length of the concentricshafts and bothclutch members, a drive shaft rotating saidhousing,

shafts for locking either of said 'shafts tothe housing, a lever having operative connection with shaft and either of the gears carried by thedrive. l'

A said collar fonfslidinglthe same and' the lockdog clutch member Within the housing, means'to lock said lever in any of a. pluralityof-'adjusted posilgtions, said collar provided with, a,- fplurality o f 5 arms extendingparallel to the` outer wall of the housing, said arms slidingthrough,means :1,995,988 v en -carryingjg resiliently K operted detents engaging said clutchv collerr arms vfonfinthen locking the clutch andts collar inv any :of y"zafplin'ality off/sev lected positionsy f f GERGE P. KITCHEN. Y5` 

